Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41176550›Full record

ArticlePain and therapy2026

Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome in Women: Clinical Covariates and Comorbidity Patterns.

Stefan Weinschenk, Nura Fitnat Topbas Selcuki, Thomas Strowitzki, Axel Gerhardt, Oliver Zivanovic, Manuel Feisst

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pain and therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Stefan WeinschenkDepartment of General Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Gynecological Pain Clinic, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. stefan.weinschenk@med.uni-heidelberg.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8658-7329
Nura Fitnat Topbas SelcukiNuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Thomas StrowitzkiDepartment of Gynecological Endocrinology and Fertility Disorders, Women's Hospital, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Axel GerhardtDepartment of General Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Gynecological Pain Clinic, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Oliver ZivanovicDepartment of General Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Gynecological Pain Clinic, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 440, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Manuel FeisstInstitute of Medical Biometry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionChronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) in women is a debilitating condition with a high prevalence (5-25%), yet its etiology remains unclear. This prospective observational study aimed to identify clinical and medical history covariates associated with CPPS to elucidate potential pathophysiological mechanisms.

methodsA total of 225 women were evaluated in a gynecological pain clinic in Germany, including 41 patients with CPPS (≥ 6 months of lower abdominal pain) and 184 control patients undergoing routine gynecological screening. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, pelvic malignancy, acute pelvic inflammation, and abnormal uterine bleeding. Covariates were assessed through structured clinical history and physical examination.

resultsSignificant associations with CPPS were observed for prior pelvic surgery (72% vs. 45%, p = 0.003), bowel constipation (37% vs. 11%, p = 0.002), history of endometriosis (33% vs. 10%, p = 0.043), and prior trauma (27% vs. 11%, p = 0.013). In contrast, there were no significant differences in rates of depression (p = 0.376), use of psychopharmaceuticals (p = 0.757), pelvic floor abnormalities (p = 0.503), uterine retroversion (p = 0.330), or pelvic congestion (p = 0.455). Dysmenorrhea (59% vs. 42%) and vulvar pain (31% vs. 8%) were more frequent in the CPPS group, though not statistically significant. No differences were found in delivery mode, use of intrauterine devices, analgesics, hormonal replacement therapy, and other medications, or comorbidities such as diabetes, thyroid disease, hypertension, other pain diseases, or musculoskeletal disorders.

conclusionsCPPS was not associated with several commonly suspected cofactors, including psychosomatic factors, pelvic congestion, or pelvic floor dysfunction. The findings suggest the existence of two subgroups of CPPS, the endometriosis-associated type and the neurovegetative type, associated with prior pelvic surgery, constipation, and trauma. This concept allows for the development of new targeted therapeutic strategies to successfully treat CPPS.

Indexed as

Adnexal tendernessCofactorsGynecological painLower abdominal painPelvic congestionPelvic floor hypertensionPelvipathyUterovaginal plexus

Identifiers

PMID41176550
PMCPMC12804502

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.